Peace and order council to map out plans on wiping out Reds

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The government convenes today the National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) to map out plans to stamp out communist insurgency in two years as ordered by President Arroyo.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced here yesterday after the joint Cabinet-Regional Development Council meeting that the administration saw the need to bring together the peace and order councils to highlight the importance of grassroots participation in the fight against communism.

The NPOC meeting, to be held at the Manila Hotel today, was approved by the Cabinet as part of the internal security plan of the government.

The NPOC is chaired by Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, while the vice chairman is Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr.

"This is to highlight the participation of the local government in the counter-insurgency hand-in-hand with the security forces and the other government agencies," Ermita said.

He said there must be a holistic approach in quelling insurgency since the roots of the problem must also be addressed.

In a statement, governors, city mayors and other local leaders of Luzon expressed full support for the government’s approach to end the insurgency problem and its socio-economic causes.

The peace and order councils were created to implement national policies, plans and programs on peace and order, as well as develop and implement a well-coordinated program of action such as the integrated area/community public safety plan.

It is also tasked to monitor and evaluate all governmental peace and order programs and projects in the localities and conduct studies and researches to identify and address the problems on criminality, rebellion, insurgency and other forms of public disorder.

The POC empowers the local communities towards greater participation and involvement in the formulation and implementation of peace and order programs.

The National Police Commission central office is the secretariat of the NPOC, while its regional offices are the secretariat of the Regional Peace and Order Councils. — Aurea Calica